Resilient band and method for using same to prevent clothing from contacting unsanitary surfaces

ABSTRACT

A resilient band, with a hook at one end and a clasp at the other end, is engaged about a leg of a pair of slacks to prevent the slacks from drooping and contacting the floor of a public facility, while the wearer of the slacks uses a commode. A decorative sleeve fits over the band, which adds an esthetically pleasing aspect to the band. The band is locked in place on the thigh of the wearer by securing a hook at one end of the band to a clasp at the opposite end of the band. The band, once the hook and clasp are disengaged, is flexible and may be stored, for future use, in a purse, pocketbook, pocket, or luggage.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 62/463,245, filed Feb. 24, 2017 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated in their entireties herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention related to a resilient band, positioned about the thigh of the user, to prevent one's slacks from drooping and contacting an unsanitary or unsightly surface, such as the floor of a restroom, shower room, or similar facility.

2. Introduction

A person, usually a female, using a public restroom, is concerned that her slacks, when unbelted, contact the floor of the restroom. The floor may be unsightly, unsanitary, and/or wet, and the legs and leg bottoms of her slacks may be stained or spotted by such contact. The need for a simple, inexpensive, and yet effective device, for retaining one's slacks spaced above the floor of the facility has not been successfully addressed.

However, applicant provides a simple, esthetically pleasing, resilient band that solves the problem in an efficient manner. The resilient band, with a hook and clasp at its opposite ends, can be stored in one's purse, pocketbook, brief case, and retrieved, as needed.

The method involves the steps of extracting the resilient band from its storage place, and then placing same over the thigh of the wearer. The nook and snap are then engaged, and hook the band is locked in place. The clothing of the wearer, usually slacks, jeans, or athletic wear, is retained in fixed position and does not droop onto the floor, while one is using a commode. The clothing is retained in fixed position whether the user sits on a toilet seat, on the commode, or squats over the commode.

After the visit to the bathroom has been completed, the user disconnects the hook and eye on the resilient band, and replaces the resilient band in its normal storage place. The user may elect to employ a resilient band for each leg, or a single band for one leg depending upon the extent of the droop of the slacks. While the resilient band may find particular application among women, the same band may be of assistance to men in keeping the legs of slacks or trousers from contacting an unsanitary and/or unsightly floor in a public facility.

The resilient band is encased in a decorative sleeve, with floral patterns and prints. The resilient band may be manufactured in different lengths, to accommodate differences in the size of the wearer's thighs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The instant invention is depicted in FIGS. 1-5 of the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective of a woman affixing applicant's unique band about her upper leg;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of applicant's band;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the band of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a woman seated upon a commode; and

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a woman squatting over a commode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the lower half of the body of a woman 10, wearing slacks 12, and shoes 14. Slacks 12 are secured about the waist of the woman, and the bottoms of the legs of the slacks contact shoes 14. Floor 16, (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5), may be wet, dirty, unsightly and/or unsanitary and woman 10 wishes to avoid her slacks from drooping, or slouching, into contact with floor 16.

To accomplish such purpose, woman 10 extracts a flexible resilient band, indicated generally by reference numeral 18, from her purse, pocket, pocket book, or luggage. Woman 10 expands band 18 and places same about her thigh. After placing the band in an accessible location, woman 10 engages hook 20 with clasp 22 and locks band 18 in fixed position. Resilient band 18 contracts and exerts a force of sufficient magnitude to press one leg 12 of the slacks against the leg of woman 10. The force prevents a leg of the slacks from drooping or sagging into contact with floor 16 when the woman uses the commode, in the manner shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 shows woman 10 seated on a toilet seat (not shown) atop commode 26. Waist 28 of slacks 12 has been undone and is folded down to allow the woman access to the interior of the commode. A resilient band 18, shown in dotted outline, encircles each leg of the wearer, to retain both legs of the slacks positioned above floor 16.

FIG. 5 shows woman 10 seated on toilet seat 28 atop commode 30. Waist 32 of slacks 12 has been undone and folded down to allow the woman access to the interior of commode 30. A resilient band 18, shown in dotted outline, encircles the left leg of woman 10, and retains the left leg of the slacks a safe distance above floor 16. Band 18 may be sufficient to keep both legs of slacks 12 spaced above floor 16; if not, band 18 may be removed from the left leg and switched to the right leg, as circumstances dictate.

Belt 18 is encased within a decoration fabric sleeve; the sleeve may be embellished with bits of costume jewelry, with floral patterns, and attractive designs, to enhance its esthetic appeal. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of preventing the legs of a pair of slacks, worn by a person, from drooping into contact with the floor of a public facility including a commode, such method including the steps of: a) removing a resilient band, with fastener means at opposite ends of the band, from a storage location on, or in proximity to, the person, b) stretching the resilient band and positioning same about the thigh of a leg of the person, c) securing the fastening means to temporarily retain the band in a position encircling the thigh to lock the slacks against the leg of the wearer, and prevent drooping of the slacks into contact with the floor, d) disengaging the fastening means so that said band can be removed from the thigh and returned to its storage position, after using the commode.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said fastener means comprises a hook at one end of said resilient band, and a clasp at the opposite end of said band.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein a sleeve houses said resilient band, and said sleeve is embellished with colorful prints to enhance the esthetic appeal of the resilient band. 